Whiffletree-goupling



(No Model.)

- I. BRAGG.

WHIFFLETREE COUPLING.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

INVENTQH,

.4 TT ORA/E Y I sirrnn STATES Parent @rrrca INGALLS BRAGG, OF SOUTHANDOVER, MAINE.

WHIFFLETREE=COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,876, dated October30, 1888. Application filed April 10, 1888. Serial No. 270,217. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, INGALLS BRAGG, of South Andover, in the county ofOxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and use ful Improvementin Whiffletree-Gouplings, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in couplings for thewhiffletrees of vehicles in which the pivot-bolt connecting thewhiffletree to the draft cross-bar or to the evener of the vehicle has abearing above the whiffletree in a brace fixed to and rising from thecross-bar or evener.

The object of my improvement is to insure as much as possible againstthe accidental loosening and detachment of the bolt, and also to provideagainst the displacement of the whiflletree in case the pivot-boltshould become detached.

The invention consists of a novel construction and combination of parts,substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as distinctly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of awhiffletreecoupling embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said coupling. Fig. 3 is across-sectional elevation of the same on the line as 00, Fig. 1.

In carrying my invention into effect in the manner illustrated in thedrawings the whiff-letree A is mounted centrally on the draft crossbar13 of the vehicle, which, in the case of a double vehicle, may be theevener, wear'plates G being by preference placed therebetween and uponthe top of the whiffletree, and both the whiffletree and cross-barapertured to receive a vertical pivot-bolt, D, substantially in theordinary way. An inverted-U brace formed With parallel side arms, F,parallel transverse fastening-plates G on the ends of the opposite armsF, and a squared bolt-hole, H, in the middle of its yoke E, is passeddownward over the whifliletree, and its fasteningplates G secured toopposite sides of the crossbar B, as by bolts passing throughcorresponding ends of the opposite plates and the interposed bar in sucha manner that the parallel side arms, F, will loosely embrace the middleof the whiflletree and the squared hole H be directly above the hole forthe pivotbolt D. The pivot-bolt D, which has a head on its upper end andnext to the head a squared portion adapted to the hole H in the yoke ofthe U-brace, is passed through the said hole H, the whiffietree A,cross-bar B, wear-plates O, and a washer, L, and a nut, K, screwed onits lower end to bind the parts together. The squared portion of thebolt, fitting in the squared hole H, will generally prevent the boltfrom working loose and becoming detached.

To opposite sides of the whiffletree and inside the brace-arms F, whichare slightly distant from the whiffletree, are attached, as by screws,bearing-plates N, formed with vertical grooves in their outer faces insuch a manner that the side walls, P, of said grooves will projectoutward on opposite sides of the respective brace arms F and serve asshoulders to strike said arms and limit the swing of the whifiietree,and will, in case the pivot-bolt D becomes unfastened, effectuallyprevent the whiffletree from being displaced, while allowing it to swingas before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a whiffletree-coupling, of a draft cross-bar, awhifl'letree, an inverted- U brace having its ends rigidly attached toopposite sides of the crossbar and its arms loosely embracing thewhiffletree at the middle, and shoulders projecting from 0pposite sidesof the whiffletree on opposite sides of the respective brace-arms and inposition to strike the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a whifi'letree-coupling, of a draft cross-bar, awhiffletree, an inverted- U brace having its ends rigidly at tached toopposite sides of the cross-bar, its

arms rising on opposite sides of the whiffletree, and its yoke having asquared hole, and a pivotbolt passed vertically through the brace-yoke,the whiffletree, and the cross-bar, and having a squared portion fittedin the squared hole in the yoke, substantially as described.

The hercin-described U bracefora whiffletree-coupling, formed with abolt-hole in the middle of its yoke, parallel side arms, and paralleltransverse fastening-plates on the ends of its opposite arms, as and forthe purpose specified. v

4. The herein described whiffletreecoupling, consisting of an inverted-Ubrace hav ing transverse fastening-plates on the ends of its armssecured to opposite sides of the draft crossbar, its side arms looselyembracing the IO middle of the Whiflietree, and a bolt-hole in themiddle of its yoke, a bolt passed through the yoke, whiifletree, andcross-bar, and plates attached to opposite sides of the whiffletree andformed with stop-shoulders projecting outward on either side of therespective yoke- 15 arms, substantially as specified.

INGALLS BRAGG. V i tn esses:

P. 0. Hon, JOSEPH H. ABBOTT.

